Newly sworn-in President Donald Trump has been heralded as a champion of women's sports following his inaugural address.
The 45th and 47th presidents of the United States will open their second terms by signing approximately 200 executive orders on Monday as their “new golden age of America” begins. Among them is an effort to roll back gender diversity programs.
In front of some 600 allies, dignitaries and family members inside the US Capitol building, Trump declared that the federal government will only recognize two sexes: male and female.
The change was described as a move to end efforts to “socially mainstream race and gender into all aspects of public and private life” and presented as a way to protect women from “gender extremism.”
While he did not explicitly refer to women's sports during his speech in the Capitol Rotunda, Trump's new gender policy comes after the new Commander in Chief previously pledged to end the “transgender madness.”
Speaking at AmericaFest in Arizona in December, Trump said: “With a stroke of my pen on Day 1, we are going to stop the transgender madness.”
President Donald Trump was praised by Riley Gaines for his declaration that the federal government will only recognize two sexes – male and female – during his inauguration.
'And I will sign executive orders to end child mutilation, remove transgender people from the military and from our elementary, middle and high schools.
'And we will keep men out of women's sports. And that will also be done on day 1. Should I do day 1, day 2 or day 3? How was day 1?
'Under the Trump administration, the official policy of the United States government will be that there are only two genders: male and female. It doesn't seem too complicated. Does it?'
And many of his loyal 'MAGA' supporters interpreted his inaugural gender stance as a sign that the president intends to make good on his promise to 'keep men out of women's sports.'
Former NCAA swimmer and conservative activist Riley Gaines, who has been outspoken about the debate over trans athletes competing in women's sports, led the praise for President Trump.
“We finally have a true CHAMPION for women in the White House,” Gained posted on X along with a clip of Trump's statement from Monday's speech.
'Sex-based definitions are already law in 8 states and have been introduced in 8 more. Today it will be established at the federal level,” he added.
Many other social media users echoed Gaines' celebration of the move, with one stating that the new Commander in Chief is an 'advocate for REAL women.'
Former NCAA swimmer and conservative activist praised president as a champion
'”There are only two genders, male and female,” declares President @realDonaldTrump on his first day in office. “And neither do any men in women's sports.” What a day to begin as President of the people of the United States of America! Game over for woke people,” another user wrote, referring to Trump's recent comments on the debate both during his inauguration and at AmericaFest.
“Some sanity has finally been restored,” said a third. “It's surprising that we've gotten to a point where it would need to be enshrined as absolute law, but clearly we need it.”
“Sanity is finally returning to this whole gender identity dialogue,” another agreed.
“Trump will keep dudes out of women's spaces and sports will win for our daughters,” praised another.
Trump's executive order comes amid a societal push for more gender inclusion in official documentation and after Biden enacted protections for transgender people.
Biden's State Department has allowed people to select a third gender, called X, on their passports starting in 2022. They did not require Americans to provide medical documentation in order to choose this option.
Now, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies are tasked with enforcing the directive that will apply only to men or women to passports, visas and other government documents.
Trump previously targeted boxer Imane Khelif, who is not transgender but reportedly failed a gender eligibility test a year before this summer's Games in Paris.
Others on social media echoed Gaines' praise for the new Commander in Chief.
Khelif won gold, but Trump mocked his participation in the event, saying: “Who wants men to participate in women's sports?
'I would like to congratulate the young woman who has evolved from a man to a woman. He… She won the gold.
Trump made reference to Khelif fighting Italian boxer Angela Carini, who quit 46 seconds into the fight after taking two blows from Algerian Khelif.
—What about the woman, the beautiful woman, from Italy? Trump said. “She walked in there and had no idea what was going on. She's a very good boxer, but only against other women.
'He did this (acts like a punch). She immediately, wow, no one has ever hit me so hard.
“Then he does it again and she immediately gives up.”
Khelif responded to Trump's mockery after the Olympics, saying: “Right afterward there was a lot of noise from politicians, athletes, stars, artists, Elon Musk and Donald Trump, and that hurt me a lot, I can't describe how scared I was.” .
'This affected me. I'm not lying to you, it affected me a lot. It hurt me a lot. I can't describe the fear I had but thank God I was able to overcome it.
“Thank God, all the people of Algeria and the Arab world knew Imane Khelif with her femininity, her courage and her will.”